The other shoe drops on S.F. kids
The federal government's idea of school reform will only make matters worse for San Francisco's children and teachers, explains .
March 19, 2010
A 3rd grade classroom in the Bay AreaAFTER THE announcement several weeks ago that San Francisco would have to cut more than 20 percent--$113 million--from its school budget for the next two years, it looked like the situation couldn't get any worse.
But on March 8, the other shoe dropped. As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, 12 schools in the city are now considered among the 188 "lowest-achieving" schools in the state.
The federal government requires this title for schools in the bottom 5 percent of test scores in California. And in order to be eligible for federal education money under the Obama administration's Race to the Top program, California has to make these schools adopt one of four draconian school "reforms" programs.
If they go along with one of the programs, the schools become eligible for up to $2 million per school. In addition, according to the Chronicle, "California law requires that, at some point, each school on Monday's list will have to pick a plan, with or without the extra